The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is joining a national research consortium led by the University of Rochester to investigate a newly identified biological driver of aging, supported by up to a $22 million contract from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA‑H). The multi‑institutional effort will explore whether reducing chronic, DNA‑triggered inflammation can help older adults maintain health, mobility, and cognitive function as they age.
“UTMB is committed to accelerating scientific discoveries that improve health across the lifespan,” said Dr. Alan Landay, vice president of Team Science at UTMB. “Through this collaboration, our researchers will help determine whether targeting the underlying mechanisms of aging, not just individual diseases, can preserve health and independence for millions of older adults.”
The initiative is led by the University of Rochester and brings together researchers from institutions across the country, including Brown University, the University of Connecticut, UTMB, UTHealth Houston, the University of Nebraska, and Transposon Therapeutics, all of which were selected by ARPA-H’s PROactive Solutions for Prolonging Resilience (PROSPR) program.
The research team at Rochester, led by Professor Vera Gorbunova, has identified retrotransposons—virus‑like genetic elements that become more active with age—as a key contributor to chronic inflammation. As people grow older, their cells can mistakenly interpret fragments of their own DNA as viral threats, activating immune responses normally used to fight infections. This persistent “false alarm” may accelerate biological aging and contribute to diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions.
The ARPA‑H–funded project will test whether TPN-101, an antiviral drug, can suppress retrotransposon activity and reduce this inflammation. Earlier studies suggest that blocking these pathways may improve cellular health and physical resilience. The new effort will expand those findings into long‑term preclinical studies and a randomized clinical trial.
The clinical trial, led by collaborators at Rochester, will enroll 200 adults ages 60 to 65 to evaluate how sustained treatment affects mobility, cognition, vitality, and other components of intrinsic capacity defined by the World Health Organization. Researchers will also examine physical performance, molecular markers of aging, and overall health outcomes.
Gorbunova said the opportunity to test an intervention aimed directly at the biology of aging represents a significant step forward. “Our hope is that by dialing down retrotransposons, we can help people remain healthier, stronger, and mentally sharper as they age,” she said. “That would be a profound shift in how we think about aging and intervention.”
“We have known for years that non-infection related inflammation increases with age and is linked to poor aging outcomes,” said Andrew Brack, ARPA-H Program Manager and creator of the PROSPR program. “Because LINE-1 retrotransposons have recently been reported to increase inflammation as we age, we are excited about the possibility that antiretroviral therapies, which have the added benefit of a long history of safety in non-diseased populations, will extend health span.”
UTMB investigators will provide key expertise in immunology, aging science, and translational research to advance the program. As a longstanding leader in geroscience and infectious disease research, UTMB brings decades of experience supporting federally funded collaborative initiatives.
“This partnership reflects UTMB’s commitment to advancing bold, high‑impact science,” said Dr. Matthew L. Mendoza, assistant director of Team Science at UTMB. “Working with Rochester and our national collaborators, we aim to generate evidence that could ultimately lead to innovative therapies for healthy aging.”